The Otay Mesa – Mesa de Otay binational corridor has been identified by the Borders Committee and the Committee on Binational Regional Opportunities (COBRO) as an area of opportunity to create an effective binational planning partnership. Transportation, housing, economic development, and environmental conservation are four key issue areas that have been identified for evaluation as part of the Otay Mesa – Mesa de Otay Binational Corridor Strategic Plan.

The study area encompasses the City of San Diego’s Otay Mesa community planning area, the County of San Diego’s Otay Subregional plan area, including Otay Lakes, the eastern section of the City of Chula Vista east of Interstate 805 (I-805) and south of Olympic Parkway, and the planning areas of Mesa de Otay and Centenario, including the Alamar River in the City of Tijuana.

A diverse group of stakeholders from the United States and Mexico is collaborating in the development of the strategic plan. The Borders Committee provides policy guidance while COBRO is the primary stakeholders group. Staff from IMPlan, Caltrans, SIDUE, and SANDAG coordinate the development of the strategic plan through a joint Project Development Team.

The SANDAG Borders Committee approved the Otay Mesa-Mesa de Otay Binational Corridor Early Action Plan on September 8, 2006. The Board of Directors approved this Plan for planning purposes at its September 22, 2006, meeting.

The Draft Otay Mesa-Mesa de Otay Binational Corridor Strategic Plan was presented to COBRO on March 6, 2007 and was released for a 30-day public review and comment period. On June 22, 2007, the Borders Committee recommended the SANDAG Board of Directors approve the Otay Mesa-Mesa de Otay Binational Corridor Strategic Plan. This recommendation resulted in the Board's approval on September 28, 2007. The Otay-Mesa - Mesa de Otay Binational Corridor Strategic Plan (Plan Estratégico del Corredor Binacional Otay Mesa – Mesa de Otay) also was approved by the Tijuana City Council on October 5, 2007.

SANDAG hosted two binational workshops on October 3 and 11, 2005 of which the first was held in National City and the second in Tijuana. The workshops were titled ‘Cross Border Collaborative Planning for Otay Mesa-Mesa de Otay’. Feedback from this workshop will be evaluated and accordingly synthesized into the Strategic Plan.